Explanation:
During a total solar eclipse,
the Sun's
extensive outer atmosphere, or corona, is an inspirational sight.
The subtle shades and
shimmering features of the corona
that
engage the eye span a brightness range of over
10,000 to 1, making them notoriously difficult
to capture in a single picture.
But this composite of 28 digital images
ranging in exposure time from 1/1000 to 2 seconds
comes close to revealing
the crown of the
Sun in all its glory.
The
telescopic views were recorded near Kochenevo, Russia during
the August 1 total solar eclipse
and also show solar prominences extending
just beyond the edge of the
eclipsed
sun.
Remarkably, features on the dark near side of the New Moon can also be
made out, illuminated by sunlight reflected from
a Full Earth.